Question 1

According to this theory, the breakdown of social bonds and the failure of social institutions cause crime.

Accepted Answer

Social disorganization theory suggests that crime is due to the breakdown of social bonds and failure of social institutions in a community.

Question 2

This is C. Wright Mills's idea that we must look beyond our personal experiences to the experiences of others in order to evaluate how social location influences how individuals perceive society.

Accepted Answer

The concept described is the "sociological imagination," a term coined by C. Wright Mills, which emphasizes the importance of understanding the link between individual experiences and the wider society.

Question 3

Which type of theory is best suited to interventions that can change the way society responds to crime?

Accepted Answer

Sociological theories are best suited for interventions that aim to change societal responses to crime because they focus on social structures, processes, and relationships that influence human behavior, including criminal behavior. These theories examine how societal factors such as poverty, education, and community relationships impact crime and how changes in these areas can reduce crime rates.

Question 4

One interesting feature of sociological theories is that many of them were developed to explain this rather than crime.

Accepted Answer

The answer of One interesting feature of sociological theories is...

Question 5

Anthropologist Oscar Lewis argued that the effects of this are passed down from one generation to the next.

Accepted Answer

Oscar Lewis is known for his theory on the "culture of poverty," which suggests that poverty is not only an economic condition but also a cultural one that can be transmitted from one generation to the next.

Question 6

Who developed concentric zone theory?

Accepted Answer

Clifford Shaw and Henry McKay developed the concentric zone theory, which is a part of the Chicago School of urban sociology and focuses on urban social structures and crime.

Question 7

University of Chicago sociologists noted that this particular zone had high rates of crime, alcoholism, and other social problems.

Accepted Answer

The transitional zone, as identified by University of Chicago sociologists, particularly in the context of the Chicago School of Sociology, was noted for high rates of crime, alcoholism, and other social problems. This area, surrounding the central business district, was characterized by its constant change and mixture of people and uses, leading to less stable communities and higher instances of social issues.

Question 8

Which is most consistent with concentric zone theory?

Accepted Answer

Concentric zone theory suggests that crime is more influenced by the characteristics of the neighborhood, such as social disorganization, rather than the characteristics of the individuals living there.

Question 9

The Chicago Area Project was an application of this theory to public policy.

Accepted Answer

The Chicago Area Project was based on the concentric zone theory, which was developed by sociologists at the University of Chicago to address urban social problems by focusing on community organization and development.

Question 10

Which of the following was not a strategy developed by the Chicago Area Project?

Accepted Answer

The Chicago Area Project, initiated in the 1930s, focused on community involvement and prevention strategies to address juvenile delinquency. Strategies like inclusive involvement, curbstone counseling, and individual participation were integral to its approach. Law enforcement exclusion was not a strategy of the project; instead, it aimed to work within existing legal frameworks and often collaborated with law enforcement for broader community safety and reform.

Question 11

This refers to the amount of informal social control and social cohesion in a community.

Accepted Answer

Collective efficacy refers to the shared belief in a community's ability to act together effectively to achieve objectives, particularly in terms of informal social control and maintaining social cohesion.

Question 12

Collective efficacy theory is a(n) _______ theory because it views the community as a collection of individuals who can change their environment.

Accepted Answer

Collective efficacy theory is considered a dynamic theory because it emphasizes the role of community members actively engaging and working together to produce change in their environment, rather than being passive or unchangeable.

Question 13

Learning theories of crime focus on where and how adult offenders and delinquents find the tools, techniques, and expertise to break the law.

Accepted Answer

Learning theories, specifically, posit that criminal behavior is learned through interactions with others, where individuals acquire the skills, knowledge, and motivations to commit crimes.

Question 14

Who first proposed differential association?

Accepted Answer

Edwin Sutherland first proposed the theory of differential association in 1939. This theory suggests that criminal behavior is learned through interaction with others.

Question 15

According to differential association theory, this refers to the concept that juveniles exposed early in life to family members who break the law will be more likely to adopt antisocial attitudes and learn how to break the law.

Accepted Answer

Priority, in the context of differential association theory, refers to the idea that being exposed to criminal behavior at an early age by significant others, such as family members, can lead to a higher likelihood of adopting antisocial attitudes and behaviors. This early exposure is considered a formative experience that shapes future behaviors.

Question 16

According to this factor of differential association theory, the longer a youth is a member of a delinquent gang, the more likely that juvenile will adopt the gang's views and behaviors towards crime.

Accepted Answer

Duration is the correct factor according to differential association theory, which suggests that the longer someone is exposed to certain behaviors or norms, such as those in a delinquent gang, the more likely they are to adopt those behaviors or norms themselves.

Question 17

This theory extends differential association theory by including operant conditioning.

Accepted Answer

Social learning theory extends differential association theory by incorporating elements of operant conditioning, suggesting that learning occurs through observation, imitation, and modeling, as well as through the rewards and punishments associated with behaviors.

Question 18

This neutralization technique allows offenders to blame outside forces for their inappropriate behavior.

Accepted Answer

Denial of responsibility is a neutralization technique where offenders claim their actions were due to external factors beyond their control, thus absolving themselves of personal responsibility for their behavior.

Question 19

A driver who claims that she was given a speeding ticket so that the police could meet their daily quota of speeders is using which technique of neutralization?

Accepted Answer

The driver is using "condemnation of condemners" by suggesting that the police are at fault for targeting drivers to meet quotas, rather than addressing the act of speeding itself. This shifts the focus from the driver's wrongdoing to the motives of those enforcing the law.

Question 20

Which of the following is not one of Miller's six focal concerns?

Accepted Answer

Endurance is not one of Miller's six focal concerns, which include trouble, toughness, smartness, excitement, fate, and autonomy.

Quiz 6: Sociological Theories of Crime and Delinquency